El regreso

Perhaps the most terrifying thing about this late 70's British set horror is that it features bill owen, he of u.k old folks fave tv show 'last of the summer wine' fame, amongst it's cast. Anyone familiar with bill's family friendly sitcom work, will be perturbed to find him appearing in a film that features various stabbings , a shot of actress Pamela stevenson's bare behind and a scene where a character describes his favourite breast size.This is truly as far from Sunday teatime tv as you can possibly get. Bill's casting aside, this is standard pete walker fare, it's all bawdy, bloody fun for 90 minutes and then back to reality with the vaguest recollection of what you just saw. Don't get me wrong pete walker, like his contemporary Norman j Warren did offer a very distinctive British flavour to 1970's horror cinema and his film's were never less than enjoyable, it's just 'the comeback's tale of singer returning to the limelight, whilst being tormented by a bloodthirsty killer, feels to me like every other script for his work and that is that it's underwritten and the finished film undercooked.

Nick Cooper (Jack Jones) is a singer in desperate need of a comeback. So he holes up at a creepy country estate (that's your first mistake right there) hoping to be inspired. He instead finds himself tortured by the restless spirit of his murdered wife (get it? She COMES BACK?).

The film features New Zealand star Pamela Stephenson (Bloodbath at the House of Death, History of the World, Part I), who can be depended upon to show great nudity, and she briefly exposes herself here.

Not too crazy about the ending. but you do get to see Charlie's Angels' Bosley in full drag.

Watch closely, as Jack Jones sings in the new film American Hustle.

There are certainly are a few (so called)well made, big budget horror films that are not as entertaining as this one. Jack Jones gives it all he's got as an actor and looks like he is having a ball. All in all IMHO an enjoyable piece of late night hokum.

A singer (Jack Jones) holes up at a sinister estate to write new songs for his act. The ghost of his murdered wife (Holly Palance) begins to haunt him, then the person who actually killed her shows up at the mansion.

How did this title wind up in the hands of Troma? Granted, over the years a number of decent films (many of them horror) have found their way into Troma's catalog, but this one is strong enough that it could easily have been picked up by MGM or Warner or someone with a little more respect.

I am not familiar with Jack Jones' singing or acting career. I only know he performed the "Love Boat" theme and was the third husband of Jill St. John. I think he did a great job here as the lead, and makes a believable everyman. Another reviewer said he looks like Robert Redford. I guess I can see it, but let us not get carried away!

As for Pete Walker, who was ignored and unappreciated in his day, this is probably among his best work. On top of the decent plot, we have gore, blood and rotting corpses... everything you want from a horror film.

Jack Jones, the seventies MOR crooner, doesn't disgrace himself with his central performance in this memorably demented chiller. Jones plays a pop singer attempting to record a new album in the surroundings of an apparently haunted country retreat, but he's distracted by the creepy staff (Sheila Keith and Bill Owen), his smarmy, secretly cross-dressing manager, the brutal murders of his ex-wife and trusted colleague, and a burgeoning relationship with groupie Pamela Stephenson. Whilst not as gory as FRIGHTMARE nor as fast-paced or compelling as HOUSE OF WHIPCORD, THE COMEBACK has more than enough touches of eye-popping kinkiness, blood-spattered madness and hallucinatory menace to keep discerning genre fans entertained. Just be warned that Jones's music on the soundtrack isn't his best (it sounds like a particularly wayward Scott Walker solo album), and if you're expecting another nonthreatening pop star movie vehicle, you'd do better to avoid this completely.